Way too early to know playoff pondering

[12intheBox]

I think its clear if we make the playoffs that we will be on the road. Chicago and Green Bay feel like the worst places to play in the winter - maybe New York.

At this point though - beggars can't be choosers - we just need to keep winning and sneak in.

 

[Tumak61]

Probably need to win at least 11 games to get in, maybe 12.

 

[PARAM]

I think its clear if we make the playoffs that we will be on the road. Chicago and Green Bay feel like the worst places to play in the winter - maybe New York.

At this point though - beggars can't be choosers - we just need to keep winning and sneak in.

It's the NFL. Very little is clear halfway through the season.

What is clear at the moment is two playoff spots are going to be taken by shitty teams from shitty divisions. The NFC East and South will have division winners but the other 6 teams will be out.

Else where, 7 Teams going for 5 spots.

So who are we concerned about? And what games on their schedule present possible losses?

San Francisco (7-1): @Dallas, v Minn, v Seattle, v RAMS, @KC
Minnesota (6-1): v Buffalo, @Green Bay, v SF, @NEngland, v Detroit, v Chicago
Chicago (7-2): @Detroit, v Jax, @BUFFALO, v GBay, v Detroit, @ Minn
Detroit (6-2): v NEng, v Chicago, @Minn, @Chicago, @GBay
Green Bay (6-3) v Minn, @rams, v Buffalo, @Chicago, v Detroit
Seattle (5-4) @SF, v Dallas, v RAMS, @ RAMS

We have 8 games left and 4 of them are against teams in direct competition for a playoff spot. Of course, winning all 4 of those would be a huge boost to our playoff possibilities but we also have to take care of the other 4 games. But they have to take care of those other games too. I'm not conceding anything at the halfway point.

 

[Ellard80]

yeah some posters in here certain nfc north is going to start losing.. still waiting for that to happen.

hopefully soon....

 

[PhillyRam]

It's the NFL. Very little is clear halfway through the season.

What is clear at the moment is two playoff spots are going to be taken by shitty teams from shitty divisions. The NFC East and South will have division winners but the other 6 teams will be out.

Else where, 7 Teams going for 5 spots.

So who are we concerned about? And what games on their schedule present possible losses?

San Francisco (7-1): @Dallas, v Minn, v Seattle, v RAMS, @KC
Minnesota (6-1): v Buffalo, @Green Bay, v SF, @NEngland, v Detroit, v Chicago
Chicago (7-2): @Detroit, v Jax, @BUFFALO, v GBay, v Detroit, @ Minn
Detroit (6-2): v NEng, v Chicago, @Minn, @Chicago, @GBay
Green Bay (6-3) v Minn, @rams, v Buffalo, @Chicago, v Detroit
Seattle (5-4) @SF, v Dallas, v RAMS, @ RAMS

We have 8 games left and 4 of them are against teams in direct competition for a playoff spot. Of course, winning all 4 of those would be a huge boost to our playoff possibilities but we also have to take care of the other 4 games. But they have to take care of those other games too. I'm not conceding anything at the halfway point.

The Rams probably can't lose more than 2 games to make the plsyoffs. 10-7 probably doesn't get it done.

The North will beat each other up, but that also means they will each win their share of those match ups.

Need Buffalo & NE to win those games and hopefully a few surprise upsets happen to those teams.

Our critical games are obviously the Packers & Seahawks games. Must wins.

 

[Fire Ants]

I think the Vikes will fold.

The fact that the Rams play Seattle 2 of the last 3 games is looming LARGE.

It wouldn't surprise me if both the Rams and Hags playoff hopes come down to those games.

 

[PARAM]

The Vikings can't score a touchdown!!!! They have a phenomenal defense but you can't win a game by scoring 0. If the Rams can manage to beat Arizona, they will come out of their bye 6-4 and hopefully a lot healthier. Minnesota plays Green Bay and San Francisco and could actually be 6-4 after 11 weeks. If they manage to win one of those games, it still helps the Rams. But let's say they won't because.....they won't.

Minnesota 6-4

Detroit is 6-2 and they face New England and the Bucs before meeting the Bears. I see at least 1 loss in those 3 games.

Green Bay is 6-3. They play the Vikings so they'll be 7-3 going into their bye before facing the Rams. We absolutely need to win that game. It would tie us with Green Bay and give us the tie breaker.

Chicago is 7-2 and have a bye this week. They play the Saints coming out of the bye so they'll be 7-3. Then they play the Lions so one of them will have at least 3 losses.

The Seahawks play the Raiders and then get their bye. So let's give them a win and put them at 6-4. Coming out of the bye they play SF so it's a win-win for the Rams.

Things could get very tight in the NFL over the next 3 weeks. Not a bad situation for a team who's decimated by injuries but getting healthy for the stretch run.